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Glossary of Terms

The list of terms and definitions below is by no means a complete one. We have defined and provided a brief explanation of many of the terms, definitions and concepts found on this web site. We are always looking to add additional terms and definitions, so please let us know if you would like any added by sending an email to submit@fishresource.com.

A

Abatement - the reduction in amount or elimination of pollution.

Abdominal Pelvics - the pelvic fins located at the far rear of the abdomen, behind the pectoral fins.

Acid Rain - rainfall with a pH level of 7.0 or less. Long-term effects of acid rain is linked to adverse effects on aquatic organisms and plant life in areas with poor neutralizing (buffering) capacity, which can eventually lead to the "death" of a lake or similar body of water. Limestone-based lakes naturally buffer the acidity, for example.

Aeration - the active or passive process by which water is oxygenated, generally by spraying water in the air, bubbling air through water, or mechanically agitating the water to ensure the surface absorption of air.

Aerator - a piece of equipment designed to provide oxygen to water, usually within a live well or container holding game or bait fish to ensure the water is oxygenated to sustain fish. Generally aerators are pumps which flow oxygen or splash water. See also: Live well and Oxygen Level of Water.

Aft - a term referring to the rear or stern of a boat.

Algae - this term refers to a very large and diverse group of aquatic organisms that do not possess root systems, leaves or stems and can range from single celled freshwater organisms to more complex varieties of saltwater kelp. Algae is a critical component of the aquatic food chain, needed to sustain marine life. See also: Plankton, Phytoplankton and Zooplankton.

Alien Species - a species, not necessarily related to marine life, outside of it's natural or historical habitat. Sometimes referred to as "introduced" species, this is often done accidentally or unintentionally with unwanted species, as in the case of the introduction of Zebra Mussels into smaller lakes from boats and trailers.

Anadromous Fish - these are fish which migrate from the saltwater oceans and seas to spawn in freshwater rivers and streams.

Anal Fin - the single fin located directly behind the anus.

Anchoring - maintaining the position of a boat in a body of water, such as a river, lake, ocean or stream, through the use of a heavy object fixed to the water bottom, usually of heavy metal secured to a line or chain. There are numerous types of anchors, such as mushroom, danforth, navy and grapnel.

Angler - someone who fishes, primarily referring to fishing with hooks.

Autumn Techniques - seasonal techniques vary by region as well as by species. Please refer to the Types Of Fish section for details of Autumn fishing techniques by individual species.

B

Back trolling - refers to "transom-first" instead of bow-first trolling. It is a technique often used for advantages such as slowing boat speed, greater vessel control and less line interference with multiple anglers due to the boat motor and propeller in the "front" rather than in the rear. For more detail on trolling techniques, please refer to the Fishing Basics section.

Bait - generally refers to a natural, synthetic or processed food used to catch fish, not to be confused with a lure, generally manufactured to mimic or represent food. Bait can also be live, such as worms, leeches, frogs and shiners, for example.

Bait casting Equipment - light to medium-light general fishing reel which is comprised of a revolving carriage which dispenses and retrieves the line. Bait casting tackle is widely used because of it's ease of use and diverse uses; it can be used to fish a wide variety of methods, from trolling to casting.

Bait fish - standard reference to any fish species used to catch fish. Depending on the species fished for, Bait fish should typically represent natural prey to the predator game fish sought. Minnows are commonly used as Bait fish, since they are such common forage to so many freshwater species. See also: Shiners.

Bank Fishing - fishing/casting from the shore (or structure, like a dock) to a still body of water or a large river.

Barb - the sharp point extending backwards on a hook to prevent the release of the hook from the material in which it is embedded.

Balloon Fishing - a little used method of fishing with live bait, in which a balloon is used on place of a float or bobber to ensure the bait maintains a particular depth. See also: Floats and Bobbers.

Bass Bugs - floating lures generally used for fly fishing which mimic such rodents as mice, as well as insects, frogs and other natural creatures.

Boat Fishing - fishing or casting from a boat typically anchored in the water.

Bobber - a term describing some type of float to which line is attached acting as a depth control device for the delivery of the bait or lure as well as a strike indicator, due to the "bobbing" or bouncing action when a strike occurs. See also: Floats and Balloons.

Boreal Forest - generally a northern forest, characterized by evergreen conifers and long winters, is found in the northern parts of North America, Europe, and Asia.

Bow - the front or forward section of a vessel.

Brackish Waters - refers to waters with salt content, however, not containing salt levels as concentrated as ocean water. It is not uncommon for both freshwater and saltwater species to be found in brackish waters.

Buck tails - types of jigs and streamer flies generally tied with hair or fur. For more detailed information on flies, refer to the Fly fishing section.

Buoyancy - the ability of a body to float or rise when submerged in water.

Buzz baits - lures resembling spinner baits with propeller style devices on the upper arm, which is typically parallel to the lower arm. The buzz bait rotates and causes a noticeable attraction to fish. Many Buzz baits are also surface lures.

C

Canadian Shield - a huge geographical rock formation which spans much of Eastern Ontario and extends down into the northern United States, and home to mostly oligotrophic lakes.

Canoe - very popular small boats generally used for fishing in very calm, small waters such as rivers, small lakes, ponds and streams.

Carolina-Rigged - a method of attaching soft plastic lures, worms, etc., to a hook in such a manner that the hook is contained within the plastic greatly lessening the chances of catching obstructions and weeds, however, penetrating when the hook is set from a strike.

Casting - the primary method of delivering or presenting a lure or bait attached to the end of a rod by line. The lure or bait is thrown or launched to a desired area or target and can be done at close range or long range. Casting can be considered an art form in many instances, such as in fly fishing.

Catadromous Fish - these are fish that migrate from freshwater lakes, rivers and streams to saltwater bodies of water for spawning purposes.

Catch and Release - this is a term for the ethical and traditional voluntary practice of returning a caught fish to it's environment instead of keeping it for consumption, etc. Catch and release practices are in many cases a voluntary practice, however, due to some species scarcity and numbers caught, catch and release fishing has become legislated to help preserve stocks and ensure a sport fishing future for generations to come. Please refer to our section on Catch and Release practices in the Fishing Basics section.

Caudal - pertaining to the tail/rear.

Channel - an area that contains continuously or periodically flowing water, such as a river or a stream, and is generally confined by banks and a stream bed.

Charter Boat - charter boats are vessels ranging from small canoes to large yachts that can be rented for fishing for a period of time. Charters can also include guide services in addition to the boats themselves. Please refer to our extensive section of fishing resorts and lodges for a list of these services available in the Resorts section.

Chuggers - a specific type of lure with an indented or concave face which catches water when retrieved in a jerking fashion, producing a popping or "chugging" sound.

Chumming - the use of ground-up or cut-up bait to attract fish close to the boat, or in some cases the ice-fishing hole, which can sometimes cause enough attraction to cause a feeding burst or frenzy

Cleaning Fish - the techniques and processes, such as filleting, scaling and removing the internal organs, for preparing fish for consumption.

Cold-blooded - fish where their body temperature is not internally regulated.

Crank bait - lures that float, however, deeply dive when retrieved. Generally most crank baits have large front lower lip which causes a Bait fish"simulation" or swimming action upon retrieval.

Creel - breathing fish baskets or containers that are generally worn over the shoulder or fastened to your belt. Traditional creels are made from wicker and are lightweight as are the more current canvas creels. In addition to holding fish, creels often have compartments for tackle as well.

Current - the flow of water, or the speed of water flow.

Cut-Bait - refers to various natural predator baits, such as strips of shad, cut into pieces and used as bait.

D

Dam - generally a man-made concrete or earthen barrier constructed across a river or stream to control water flow or create a reservoir.

Depth Finder - broad term for an electronic device which determines the distance between the boat and the bottom of the body of water (depth) and often the bottom composition as well.

Dock - man-made abutments, often wood, which extends into a body of water, either floating or suspended above the surface by legs, generally to assist in boating.

Dorsal - pertaining to the back, or situated near to or on the back.

Dorsal Fin - the fin located on the back of fish, and in front of the adipose fin, if one is present.

Down rigger - trolling equipment which enables trolling at precise depths, and the use of much lighter tackle in deeper waters. Typically, a "cannonball" (metal weight) is attached on a cable with the fishing line attached to a release which trips when a fish is on hook, thus allowing the fish to be played on a free line.

Drag - generally the result or action of a fly drifting on the surface or submerged in water flowing at a greater rate of speed, or, the device on a reel which slows the release of line when the reel is in gear.

Drifting and Drift-Trolling - using the movement of a boat, by wind or current, to fish by slowly drawing a line with a lure or bait, through the water, as opposed to using a motor or oars to power the boats movement.

Dry Fly - a fly which imitates natural flies in the habitat, such as shad flies, mayflies, mosquitos and caddisflies. Dry flies float on the surface of the water.

E

Ecosystem - is the biological environment combining the land, water and air together that makes up its community and the interacting organisms which inhabit this community.

Embryo - the primary stages of development before an fish becomes self supporting.

Endemic - native to or limited to a specific region.

Eutrophic Lake - a lake which is nutrient rich and surrounded by nutrient-rich soils which add nitrogen, phosphorous and numerous other fertilizers to the waters. Eutrophic lakes generally have a very high percentage of mud and weed bottoms.

Equipment - anything, such as machines, clothing, tools, etc., that is used for fishing.

Exotic species - introduced species, ranging from Zebra Mussels to Trout, not native to the place they inhabit.

F

Fall Techniques - methods for catching fish most effective in, or solely intended for the autumn time of the year.

Fingerling - the name for a young fish in its first or second year of life.

Fish finder - a generic term used for electronic units, generally sonar, that identify fish and outline the bottom of a body of water.

Floats - devices that are attached to a fishing line often used to maintain bait at a certain depth. The float, or bobber, floats on the surface and often will indicate a strike when a fish takes the bait.

Flies and Fly Fishing - Fly fishing is the technique where the fisherman casts his line, instead of bait or a lure and flies are extremely lightweight lures which generally resemble the natural insects, worms, bait, fish eggs or natural prey of the habitat. Since flies are so light, the weight of the line is used to cast and thus allows for the presentation of the lightweight fly at the end of the line.

Food Chain - a term used to describe the relationship of organisms which are interrelated in their feeding habits, where organisms that are lower in the chain are fed on by organisms higher in the chain.

Forage Fish - small feeder fish which abundantly breed and serve as food for predatory fish.

Foul-Hooked Fish - a fish that is hooked anywhere except in the mouth, such as in the belly or gills.

Free-Lining - a technique to present extremely lightweight lures, such as flies, in a moving stream or river. The line is fed out and no leader, sinker or weight of any type is used and the current of the water keeps the lure or bait from sinking to the bottom.

G

Gaff - a pole or handle with a large hook at one end used to land large fish or pull them into a boat.

Game Fish - a fish that is sought after for recreational or sporting purposes or is regulated by law for recreational harvest.

Gills - the fleshy, and vascular breathing organs of fish, enabling them to draw oxygen from the water.

GPS Systems - an acronym for Global Positioning System, which is an electronic device used to for navigation and determining location.

Grubs - the larva of an insect used as bait. Also a term for small to medium sized artificial soft lures used with jigs.

H

Habitat - the local biological community or environment in which organisms live and grow.

Hatchery - pertains to organizations that incubate eggs and raise the young for release into lakes, streams and rivers.

Hatchery Production - the spawning, incubation, hatching, or rearing of fish in a hatchery or other artificial production facility.

Hook - a bent piece of material (wire, bone, shell, etc.) sharpened to a point on one end, used to hold bait and to impale and capture a fish. Hooks are often barbed to ensure that they stay embedded.

Hookset (setting the hook) - techniques and tension used to embed a hook in a fish's mouth and to keep the hook in place.

Hydric - wet.

I

Ice Fishing - in northern locations, winter fishing through drilled holes in a frozen lake or pond.

Ichthyology - the scientific study of fishes.

Imitator Flies - artificial flies that imitate or suggest the natural insect.

Indigenous - existing naturally in a region, state, province, country, etc.

Inflatable Boat - a lightweight collapsible craft with inflatable sides and bow; generally 10-12 feet in length, and powered by a small outboard motor.

Insects - small creatures with six legs protruding from the thorax, no backbone, and a segmented body. Aquatic and terrestrial insects are an important food source for numerous freshwater fish species.

Inshore Fishing - fishing the coastal marine areas (i.e. estuaries, rivers, and bays of near shore ocean waters) from a boat for resident and migratory species.

J

Jerk baits - a specially balanced plug or soft worm without a built-in swimming action, fished fairly shallow beneath the surface in a twitching motion. Strictly used in casting, Jerk baits are mainly freshwater lures.

Jigs - an artificial lure with a metal head molded to a single hook. The hook shank may be dressed with fur, feathers, rubber, soft plastic, pork rind, other synthetic materials, and occasionally with live or dead natural bait. Jigs are very popular in ice fishing.

Jugular pelvics - pelvic fins in front of the pectoral fins.

Jump-Bait - small, easy-to cast metal lures that are used in quick-casting to schools of surface-feeding white bass, largemouth bass, and striped bass

Jump-Fishing - spotting, chasing, and fishing for schooling fish that are feeding on the surface; this term is generally used in freshwater for bass species.

K

Keeper - a term for a fish you don't want to release, or for a fish that meets or exceeds the legal length limits.

Kelts - also called "black" or spring salmon, kelts are sea-run Atlantic salmon that have over wintered in a river and returned to saltwater in the spring. Kelts are thinner and initially darker than fresh bright-silver spring migrants, but lighten as they approach the sea.

Kick-Boat - a self-propelled dual-pontoon float tube.

Knots - the intertwining of one or more pieces of fishing line as a fastening.

Kype - the distinctive hooked jaw that male salmon develop during spawning.

L

Landlocked - a term for anadromous fish that have adapted to a completely freshwater existence, spending the greater portion of their life in a lake and returning to natal rivers to spawn. Any fish (usually salmon or striped bass) without access to saltwater is landlocked.

Lateral line - a series of sensory pores opening to the exterior along the side of fish.

Leader - a length of nylon monofilament or wire at the end of a fishing line, connected to a lure, hook, or fly. Also known as a trace, a leader is intended to have low-visibility (important for trout and salmon in streams) or to protect the fishing line from cutting or breaking, especially from sharp-toothed species, such as pike and muskellunge.

Levelwind - a mechanism on some conventional reels and most Bait casting reels that automatically disperses line evenly across the spool when line is retrieved.

Leeches - small aquatic blood-sucking worms used as bait.

Live well or Live box - a container filled with water and often equipped with accessories such as aeration equipment that is used to hold and transport live fish. Live wells are generally a built-in component of fishing boats, whereas live boxes are generally portable.

Live Bait - whole live fish or other live organisms used to catch predatory fish.

Loop Knots - a type of terminal connection in which the line is attached to the hook or lure with a free-swinging loop rather than a snug attachment.

Lure - any non-natural object with a hook that is used to catch fish; often made from wood, metal, lead, hard and soft plastic, feathers, fur, yarn, and combinations of materials.

Lure Retriever - a device used to free a lure snagged in deep water.

M

Man-Made Lakes - artificially-formed bodies of water.

Marsh - wet or periodically flooded treeless land, characterized by grasses, cattails, and other freshwater wetland plants.

Mayflies - the best-known aquatic insects, mayflies are members of the scientific order Ephemeroptera. All of the approximately 700 species have aquatic larvae and a relatively short-lived terrestrial adult stage.

Mending - line-manipulating skill practiced by fly anglers to position or drift a fly without drag (the influence of current on a fly that inhibits it from drifting freely and as a natural insect).

Mesotrophic Lake - a lake surrounded by slightly fertile land with sparse weed growth with mostly rock, gravel or sand basins.

Midges - these small aquatic insects belong to the scientific order Diptera, and are extremely abundant and important food sources for shallow-feeding fish in vegetated areas of streams and lakes.

Migrant - life stage of anadromous and resident fish species which move from one location, habitat or ecosystem (river, lake or ocean) to another.

Migration - moving from one area of residence to another.

Minnows and Bait fish - Bait fish is a generic term for any fish species that are forage for predators; the term specifically refers to fish that are used in live bait angling. Almost all minnow species are used for bait and are important forage food for many game species.

Milt - fish semen.

Mollusks - a group of soft-bodied, hard-shelled freshwater and saltwater animals including the oyster, clam, mussel, snail, conch, scallop, squid, and octopus. May be used as bait when angling.

Monofilament Line - technically a single strand of fishing line, but in sport fishing has become synonymous with nylon line. Nylon monofilament line is a polymeric by-product of crude-oil processing, and is formed through an extrusion process in which molten plastic is formed in a strand through a die

Mortality - the number of fish lost or the rate of loss.

N

Nail Knot - a fishing knot for line-to-line connections.

Natal - birth place.

Natal Stream - stream of birth.

Native Species - a species of fish endemic to a specific region, watershed, or body of water.

Natural Bait - live or dead organisms that occur in nature and which are used to attract and catch fish.

Natural Fish - a fish that is produced by parents spawning in a stream or lake bed, as opposed to a controlled environment such as a hatchery.

Natural Lakes - lakes formed by glaciers or by other natural means.

Natural Mortality - deaths in a fish stock caused by predation, pollution, senility, etc., but not fishing.

Nest Guarding - the parental practice of patrolling the nesting area, thus protecting a nest's eggs from likely predation.

Net Keeping - a device that tethers a landing net to the body of a wading angler so that the net does not interfere when fishing, yet is easily accessible; usually fastened to a retractable chain or string, or to a quick-release clip.

Night crawlers - common earthworms, usually from 6 to 8 inches long; a popular and highly effective freshwater bait.

Night Fishing - fishing at night for fish species that are active at night and that have physical adaptations to night life. Light-sensitive walleye and scent-sensitive catfish are especially well-tuned to nocturnal feeding. Fish typically fished for at night are largemouth bass, striped bass, catfish, trout, and coho and chinook salmon.

Nymph - the immature form of some aquatic insects in freshwater; also an artificial fly that imitates or suggests the natural insect.

O

Offshore Fishing - fishing the deep-water areas on the edges of ocean currents or the blue-water shelves for big-game pelagic species, particularly billfish and tuna.

Oligotrophic Lake - a lake which is generally surrounded by infertile or sterile land, releasing very few nutrients into the water. Also often referred to as trout lakes.

Operculum - the gill cover.

Oxygen Level of Water - the measured concentration of oxygen in water. Different fish species require different oxygen levels; knowing the oxygen levels of lakes at different depths may help anglers to find fish. For example, oxygen dissolved in water is measured in parts per million (ppm); 8 to 9 ppm is considered ideal for bass.

P

Pan-Dressing - a method of cleaning small fish that may or may not be suitable for filleting or that are to be cooked whole

Pan fish - a term widely used to collectively describe a variety of small freshwater fish of several species. Species commonly known as Pan fish are bluegills, pumpkinseeds, crappie, white bass, yellow bass, and white perch.

Pathogens - any agent that causes disease, such as a virus, protozoan, bacterium or fungus.

Parr - small young anadromous fish (typically salmon and trout), living in freshwater prior to making the sea migration. During this life stage, parr develop large, camouflaging vertical or oval rounded spots that will gradually disappear as the fish becomes silvery (regardless of whether the fish goes to sea).

Party Boat - usually a large vessel that accommodates individual anglers, mostly on a nonreserved basis and with daily fares per person, paid upon boarding.

Pectoral Fins - the anterior (front) paired fins, attached to pectoral (shoulder) girdle.

Pelvic fins - posterior paired fins, located in the abdominal position or towards the rear.

pH - the negative logarithm of the molar concentration of hydrogen ion. Or a more simple definition of pH is "acidity."

Phytoplankton - microscopic suspended algae in the surface waters of seas and lakes where there is enough light for photosynthesis to occur

Pier Fishing - shore fishing from a structure raised on piles that extends perpendicular from shore out into the water. Good piers have structures that attract and hold fish. Pier fishing offers an excellent opportunity for family fishing and an inexpensive means of introducing children to angling.

Piscivorous - fish eating. Describes most predatory fish, and most of those considered sport fish.

Pithing - A method of killing fish, used in fish preparation, whereby a small pick is inserted into the back of the fish's head from the top, scrambling the brain. Pithing is usually reserved for smaller freshwater species.

Planer Boards - devices that aid flat lining substantially and increase the versatility of trolling presentations. Planer boards allow lures to approach commonly-spooked fish species. There are two versions of planer boards and fishing-line release styles. A side planer is a version of planer board that evolved on the Great Lakes for salmon and trout trolling, and runs along a non-fishing cable that attaches the board to the boat. The fishing line(s) attaches to the planer board as it runs at varied distances to the side of a boat. In-line planers are smaller but similar to side planers, and attach to a fishing line which is released when a fish strikes.

Plankton - minute floating forms of microscopic plants and animals in water which cannot get about to any extent under their own power. They form the important beginnings of food chains for larger animals.

Playing Fish - fighting the hooked fish; after attracting and hooking a fish, an angler must play it, and land it. Playing a fish depletes its energy and causes lactic acid buildup in the fish's body, which can be fatal to fish. Do not play a fish for a prolonged period; the fish will exhaust its resources and may not be able to recover its strength. Still, deep-water fish should be played slowly so that they depressurize as they are pulled to the surface.

Plug - usually a relatively buoyant wooden or molded hard plastic lure with built-in swimming action. Most plugs float, some sink, and some are combination sinkers-floaters.

Pocket Water - a boulder-strewn or large rock-studded section of river or stream composed of fast and slow current, in which the commotion downstream of one rock meets another rock and so on, creating small pools or eddies downstream of the rocks. The creases or edges of the currents along these places hold trout

Pond - a body of water smaller than a lake, often artificially formed.

Popper - a hard or solid-bodied artificial fly, also known as a bug or popping bug. Surface lure: A wooden or plastic surface plug with a concave, scooped-out mouth, also called a popping plug.

Popping Plug - a wooden or plastic surface plug with a concave, scooped-out mouth.

Pork-Rind Trailer - a strip or bit of pork attached to a weedless spoon or jig.

Possession Limit - a regulation restricting the total number of fish of a species that may be legally possessed by one person. The limit is established by the fisheries agency and enforced by fish and wildlife conservation officers. Possession limits vary widely.

Potamadromous - fish that migrate within rivers or streams to spawn.

Practice Plug - hookless, cylindrical, plastic or rubber-coated weights used for practice casting with spinning, spin casting, and Bait casting tackle.

Predator - species that feed on other species.

Propbait - a surface lure with a propeller.

Q

Quota - a number of fish allocated for harvest to a particular fishing group or area.

R

Rapids - a section of stream or river that is characterized by small falls and turbulent high velocity water.

Reel - a line-management device affixed to a fishing rod, used to store, dispense, and retrieve fishing line.

Releasing Fish - see Catch and Release.

Reservoir - a natural or artificial lake that is a source or store of water.

River - a large natural stream of flowing water.

Rod - an instrument or piece of equipment with a handle, shaft, and reel seat, which connects a reel and line for the purpose of making a controlled presentation of bait, lure, or fly.

Roe - the eggs of fishes.

Rough Fish - the species of fish that are considered to be of either poor fighting quality when taken on tackle or of poor eating quality, such as carp, gar, suckers, etc.

Runoff - water that flows over the ground and reaches a stream as a result of rainfall or snow melt.

S

Salamander - a small, lizard-like animal.

Salinity - the concentration of salt in a body of water. For example, the salinity of a saltwater wetland changes whenever freshwater is added when it rains, and each time the saltwater is added or removed when tide rises and falls.

Salt Water - water which contains a relatively high percentage of sodium chloride.

Sand Spike - a rod-holding, pointed tube inserted into the sand, used by surf anglers to secure a rod.

Sauger - a member of the perch family, the sauger is a smaller and slimmer version of the walleye. The sauger is often overlooked by anglers, or mistaken as walleye (and are usually marketed as such in stores). The saugeye is a hybrid cross between a walleye and a sauger.

Schooling Behavior - 1. the herding or grouping tendencies of fish within a species or of related species, into a large moving unit as a means of reducing predation. 2. the behaviour of a group of game fish actively feeding upon Bait fish or other prey, and are thus vulnerable to anglers' efforts.

Sculpins - bottom-dwelling fish preferring cold shelf waters and the rocky tidal pools throughout the Northern Hemisphere. Sculpin are mainly a marine species, but the smaller freshwater sculpin (2 to 7 inches in length) are found in the deep water of the Great Lakes, clinging to the bottom to feed on small invertebrates and mollusks.

Seasonal Fish Movement - refers to the time periods when migratory species of fish are present in their various habitats.

Seine - either a large commercial fishing net suspended by floats; or a small fine-mesh net or a net stretched over a frame, used for capturing Bait fish in shallow waters.

Setting The Hook - see Hookset. The act of applying quick tension to the line to prevent a fish from freeing itself from a hook (generally upon strike).

Shallow Water - contrasts with deep water.

Shiners - another name for a minnow species, characterized by their shimmering silver sides as they swim and turn in schools; used for bait.

Shoal - 1. a shallow-swimming school of fish; 2. a shallow ridge, bar, or bank in a body of water that is a danger to boat navigation when the water level is low. Fish the areas adjacent to shoals.

Shock Leader - generally, leaders intended to absorb physical punishment (mechanical abrasion caused by debris, fish teeth, tension) and the impact of a strike.

Shore Fishing - fishing from land, such as the banks of a river or beaches of a lake or ocean.

Sinker - a weight used to sink a lure or bait, especially natural bait.

Skinning Fish - a skin-removal process during fish preparation.

Slip-Bobber - a lightweight float also known as a slip float, it slides along the fishing line, and is usually used in conjunction with a stop on the line to position a bait at a certain depth.

Slip-Sinker Fishing - using a sinker (weight) that slides freely along a fishing line; commonly refers to cone-shaped weights used with soft worm lures.

Slot Limit - a regulation restricting the size of fish that may be kept. Limits are established to protect fish of a certain size for various species, but most often for controlling largemouth bass populations and encouraging the survival of larger specimens, for example.

Smolt - a young, silvery salmon migrating from freshwater to the sea.

Snag - to catch a hook on obstructing debris; or to hook a fish in a part of its body other than its mouth.

Soft Worms - artificial wormlike lures made of soft plastic, commonly called plastic worms, but may also imitate leeches, salamanders, etc.

Sonar Systems - an acronym for SOund NAvigation and Ranging equipment, used to electronically find concentrations of fish at precise depths, and for locating bottom structures likely to attract and hold fish.

Spawn Bag - a mesh sack containing fish eggs, commonly used for river fishing for coho and chinook salmon and steelhead.

Spawning - the act of reproduction of fishes. The mixing of the sperm of a male fish and the eggs of a female fish.

Spin casting - mostly employed in light freshwater fishing, spin casting tackle has a front-cover reel and a hole through which fishing line passes and continues along the rod when released by pushing a button on the reel. The simplest of all tackle types, attractive to many beginners.

Spinner - a metal lure with a revolving blade that spins around a central shaft when retrieved.

Spinner bait - a V-shaped lure, with spinning blades at the end of one arm, and a tapered lead hook garnished with some skirt or dressing configuration. A popular bass lure that spins as it is retrieved.

Split Shot - a small round fishing weight split in the middle, that clamps onto fishing line.

Spoons - a sinking metal lure that wobbles. Spoon types include weedless, jigging, casting, and trolling spoons.

Stand-Up Fishing - a saltwater angling technique in which anglers stand up while fighting large offshore (deepwater) fish, using a short rod and many short-pumping strokes.

Stern - a term referring to the rear or aft of a vessel.

Stink baits - any foul-smelling 'foods' such as dough, paste, dip, gumballs, etc. that are attached to a hook and used for catfishing.

Stop - a bead or thin line knot on the fishing line used to position a bait at a certain level. Fishing line slips through but stops at a float when the stop (knot in the line) halts the bait, thus suspending a bait at the required depth.

Storing Fish - after cleaning fish, anglers usually refrigerate or freeze fish for later consumption. For long-term transportation, keep whole fish between crushed ice in a cooler with the vent open to let water escape.

Stream - a flow of water in a bed; usually connecting small bodies of water or emanating from a larger flow of water.

Stream Fishing - fishing or casting from the shore or banks of a stream, or while wading within the stream itself. Brooks, rivers, streams...

Streamer Fly - a sinking artificial fly with feathers that represents specific or generic Bait fish or leeches, worms, eels, etc.

Strike Indicators - bite indicators; any small object, usually something floating or bobbing that indicates line tension and movement.

Stringer - a device (rope, chain, line, etc.) for tethering fish that will be kept; usually placed in the water.

Structure - any object that provides protection, shelter, or feeding opportunities to game fish; particularly important to freshwater bass anglers.

Surface Lures - lures or flies that float on the surface (topwater) or are trolled across the surface to elicit visible strikes.

Survival Rate - the number of fish alive after a specified time interval, divided by the initial number. Usually on a yearly basis.

T

Tailspinner - a small lead-bodied lure with a treble hook under its belly and a revolving spinner blade at its tail. Used primarily for largemouth and white bass fishing in schooling situations and when the fish are in a surface feeding frenzy.

Temperature (water) - one of the many factors anglers consider when seeking game fish is the water temperature at certain depths. Temperature influences every aspect of a fish's life: habitat, reproduction, feeding and migration habits.

Terminal Tackle - the individual and collective equipment used at the end of a fishing line: bait, hooks, knots, leaders, lures, sinkers, etc.

Terrestrial Flies - generally artificial flies used in Fly fishing; these flies imitate insects that live near river banks and that accidentally fall into the water; most float on the surface, some sink slowly.

Texas Rig - the standard, virtually snag-free, worm-rigging method; consists of a worm, slip sinker, and hook, with the hook point turned inward and back, embedded in the neck area of the worm.

Thermocline - the layer of water in a lake in which the temperature changes 10C with each meter increase in depth.

Tip-ups - in ice fishing, consisting of a line-filled spool attached to a baited hook. In one style of tip-up, when the bait is struck, a highly visible bite-indicating flag is released. Tip-ups are usually reserved for larger predator fish rather than for Pan fish

Tippet - the section of a fly fishing leader that ties to the fly.

Topwater Lure - see Surface Lures.

Tributary - a stream that flows into another stream, river, or lake.

Trolling - a method of presenting a lure or bait behind a boat; especially popular in wide-open waters or when fish are scattered in a large, deep body of water with few obstructions.

Trolling Boards - wooden or aluminum board that reaches from gunwale to gunwale, used to hold trolling accessories.

Tube Baits - a long and slender hollow trolling lure made out of soft plastic; or a hollow soft plastic body covering a jig.

U

Undulating - to move in waves. Referring to the movement of a female fish's tail in a waving motion used to move gravel for the construction of a redd.

Uni Knot - a knot used for terminal and line-to-line connections.

Upstream Fishing - facing, casting, and fishing upstream in flowing water, allowing the fly to drift back to the angler who is out-of-sight of a fish. Common practice of dry-fly anglers.

V

Ventral fins - see Pelvic Fins.

Vertebrates - having a skeletal structure and possessing a spinal column.

Vertical Jigging - the intermittent lowering and raising of the jig in short succession.

W

Wading - entering the water to fish, or fishing from a bank.

Wading Staff - a stick or pole that helps to balance and steady and angler while wading in a fast current.

Walking-the-Dog Retrieval - a surface plug or stick bait lure retrieval technique that moves the lure from side to side. Begin with a slightly slack line and the rod tip pointed down, then make rhythmic short jerks with the rod tip while simultaneously turning the reel handle a little with each jerk to collect the line.

Warm water Species - a broad classification on non-salmonid fish that generally have at least one spiny ray, have pelvic and pectoral fins located behind the gills, and are usually suited for water that consistently exceeds 70 degrees F.

Weedless Lures - a lure with a guard covering the hook to prevent snags; or a lure that does not easily become caught on obstructions.

Weeds - usually refers to aquatic plants; technically, a plant that grows in a place where it is not wanted.

Wet Fly - a sinking artificial fly that primarily represents subsurface forms of aquatic insects in freshwater.

Wind - sometimes stimulates fish activity, but too much causes anglers to struggle with lure presentation and casting. Fish sheltered areas on windy days.

Worms - popular and effective bait, either natural or artificial (usually a plastic imitation).

X

Xeric - dry.

Y

Yearling - a one year old fish.

Yield - the weight or number of fish removed by fishing during a defined time period.

Z

Zooplankton - small aquatic animals that are suspended or swimming in water.

Freshwater Fishing Resources

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